Addazio's Interim Role Not Spelled Out Clearly

How Much Meyer Will Stay Involved Still Uncertain

NEW ORLEANS — From now until Friday's Sugar Bowl, all head-coaching duties belong to Urban Meyer.

By Saturday, Steve Addazio will oversee daily operations while Meyer officially takes his leave of absence.

That's about all the clarity you'll find out of Florida's current coaching position since Meyer resigned on Saturday and had second thoughts on Sunday.

Meyer, whose No. 5 Gators (12-1) play No. 4 Cincinnati (12-0) in the Superdome, said he expects to coach in 2010.

Addazio, the Gators' offensive coordinator, will likely organize the 2010 recruiting push and help the Gators find a defensive coordinator to replace Charlie Strong. But it's uncertain how much Meyer will be involved in those decisions.

Meyer says he's confident in handing his burden to Addazio, who has been with Meyer for five seasons.

"I believe he's one of the top coaches in America," Meyer said during Sunday's Sugar Bowl news conference.

Addazio was a candidate for the Syracuse job last year before accepting an offer to replace Dan Mullen as offensive coordinator.

Addazio's offense finished in the top 10 nationally in most rushing categories but failed to compare to the 40-plus-points of offense from the previous two years. The offense averaged 34.7 points per game and 442 total offensive yards per game.

Addazio, who was unavailable for comment Sunday, has been loyal to Meyer after the coach lost seven assistant coaches in the last three years.

Athletic Director Jeremy Foley said he's not ready to discuss the game plan should Meyer not return for 2010 and Addazio becomes the primary option.

"I'm not even going to go down there," Foley said. "We'll talk about that if it happens."

UF President Bernie Machen would be involved in any decisions about the program with or without Meyer, Foley said.

Meyer plans to coach the Sugar Bowl "full speed ahead," which means Addazio will not have head-coaching responsibilities while in New Orleans.

Meyer will step away from the game temporarily after numerous health scares in the last month, primarily from chest pains. Meyer likely will spend more time with wife Shelley and three children, but he doesn't have a plan for his time off.

"When it's time, it will be time," said Foley about Meyer's return.

That could make Addazio's job tricky while trying to hold together the program. Meyer says he takes solace in the program's foundation that transcends his own coaching ability.

"This program isn't because of Coach Meyer. He's got actually very little to do with it," Meyer said. "It's because of the staff, support staff, most importantly the great players we brought in here. That's what's happened, and we just need to continue that."

INFORMATIONAL BOX:

Steve Addazio

Age: 50

From: Farmington, Conn.

Years with Urban Meyer: Seven (two as Notre Dame assistant, five at Florida)